Anders Lindegaard insists he can be No 1 goalkeeper ahead of David de Gea at Manchester United

Anders Lindegaard has claimed that David de Gea is no longer the established
first-choice goalkeeper at Manchester United after being handed the chance
to consign the £18.3 million Spaniard to an extended spell on the
substitutes’ bench.

Pole position: Anders Lindegaard, called up in favour of David de Gea for the 3-2 victory at Southampton, is expected to retain his place when United face Galatasaray on Wednesday Photo: REUTERS

Denmark international Lindegaard, called up in favour of the dropped De Gea for the 3-2 victory at Southampton earlier this month, is expected to retain his place when Manchester United begin their Champions League campaign at home to Galatasaray on Wednesday.

The 28 year-old appeared to have dislodged De Gea from the team last January only to have his season ended by a training ground ankle injury.

But with manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitting that De Gea was dropped for the trip to Southampton following a poor performance in the 3-2 win at home to Fulham last month, Lindegaard believes that the No 1 position is now there to be taken.

“At this point, I see David’s and my roles as co-workers rather than No 1 and No 2.” Lindegaard said. “He has his strengths and I have mine and the gaffer is world class at picking the right teams and I trust in that and I accept his decision. Whether I am playing or not is still a very open question because every time you play for United it is an exam.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is Champions League, Premier League or a training match. That is how it is.” Lindegaard, who has made 15 appearances since arriving from Norwegian club Aalesunds in Jan 2011, has yet to concede a goal at Old Trafford for United.

Another clean sheet against Galatasaray tomorrow night would extend his record to seven successive shutouts at home, but after United’s shock exit from the Champions League at the group stage last season, Lindegaard insists that the club will not be derailed by complacency in this campaign.

“I don’t know if we were complacent last season but the fact is we didn’t go through and we were very disappointed and we have to make it right this season.”

Manchester United are expected to report a drop in revenue and profits today as a result of the club’s failure to progress in the Champions League last season.

The club will announce the full-year results for the year ending June 30, 2012. In unaudited estimates presented to potential investors last month, the club predicted a fall in revenue of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent, an estimated £315 million to £320 million compared to £334 million for the year ending June 2011.

It is also expected to show that wages have risen by around 10 per cent compared to 2011, but that commercial deals, such as training kit partner DHL, have also risen by as much as 13 per cent to £117 million, softening the blow of the fall in broadcast income and prize money from European football.